The Board of Education for Mentor Public Schools approved a new journalism elective for the English department at their April meeting of this year to help students hone the skills of researching, interviewing, and writing.

Curriculum Director Larry Luciano supervised a team of teachers who developed the class, including Tracy Coleman, chair of the English department; Carissa Richards, English teacher and instructional coach; and Sharon Bolles, English teacher. 

Bolles volunteered to teach the course and recruited students for this elective in May of last year. She said she is excited about teaching the new elective and has high hopes for the class. “My goal is to help students learn how to research thoroughly, interview assertively, listen intently, write objectively, and speak professionally,” Bolles said.

Student expectations for the course seem just as high. One member of the class, junior Sylvia Hall, wrote about why she took the course and what journalism means to her. She wrote, “Journalism is an art form that doesn’t just capture history but shapes how we see it. Just like any other artist, a journalist makes decisions about which voices to amplify, what stories to tell, and the truths to highlight. There is a great deal of responsibility in this, but it is fun and just like any art form, a way to express yourself.”

According to Bolles, the class is progressing well. “So far students have learned about the history of journalism, the basics of media law, the importance of interviewing skills, and the inverted pyramid structure so often used by journalists,” she said.

Students enrolled in the course are beginning to see the value of these skills beyond the classroom. Senior Erin Melendez said, “I feel like journalism helps with real-life skills, like applying for jobs and interviewing, and just day-to-day communication. It also helps you connect with anyone, since everyone has a different perspective. Journalism creates conversations, helps you hear other people’s points of view, and even gives you a more open and unbiased mindset.”

Students will begin learning other skills in the course such as sports writing, feature writing, and podcasting very soon.